TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > February, 2007

Prime Minister Meets with US Vice President Dick Cheney Wednesday, February 21, 2007 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with Mr. Dick Cheney, the Vice President of the United States (US) at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Abe said, "Japan and the United States are partners that share values. The Japan-US alliance is unshakable and indispensable, and is in the interests of Asia and the wider world. Vice President Cheney's visit to Japan is highly significant in that it will contribute to further strengthening our alliance." In response, Vice President Cheney said, "We are cooperating in the areas of nuclear proliferation and ballistic missiles, and resolution in the tragic case of the Japanese abductees is a common issue for our nations. We believe the relationship between our two countries has never been stronger, and this gives us confidence for the future." At a subsequent meeting, the two leaders agreed on the importance of US base realignment, the early conclusion of the WTO Doha Round negotiations and progress toward peace in the Middle East, and exchanged opinions on United Nations (UN) Security Council reform, in which Vice President Cheney expressed US support for Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council, as well as on global warming. Concerning the Six-Party Talks, the two leaders agreed that the correct step had been taken. Prime Minister Abe stated how important the abduction issue is to Japan and Vice President Cheney expressed his deep understanding of Japan's position on the issue. After the meeting, Prime Minister Abe hosted a dinner for Vice President Cheney at the Prime Minister's Residential Quarters.